Rory McIlroy had a quiver in his voice throughout as questions about his private life were banned in his brief media conference ahead of the PGA Championship at Valhalla.
Less than 24 hours after news broke that he had filed for divorce, the world number two was spared interrogation from the press by the PGA, who insisted he would not be commenting on his private life.
“I believe you all saw the statement yesterday from Rory’s communication team specifically that he will not be making any additional comments on his private life, so thank you all for respecting his wishes,” the PGA invigilator said at the start of a scheduled 10-minute conference that produced just seven questions from the floor and lasted just under nine minutes.
The only question that came close to broaching the subject of McIlroy’s decision to split from his wife of seven years, Erica Stoll, produced the shortest answer of the briefing.
Asked about his energy levels, “and just on a personal level, how are you doing?”, McIlroy paused briefly and said curtly: “I’m ready to play this week.”
He’s one of the favourites to end his 10-year major drought and believes he’s ready finally get over the line, despite his off-course turmoil, after winning his second tournament in a row with an impressive performance in the Wells Fargo Championship on Sunday.
“I feel good,” said McIlroy, who was shadowed inside the ropes at Valhalla during his morning practice round by his father, Gerry.
“Obviously had a great day on Sunday at a golf course that I’ve grown to love over the years and had a lot of success at, coming to a venue where I’ve had some success at before as well.
“Obviously get to go back to Quail Hollow every year. Don’t really get to come back here too much. Today was the first time I was on the golf course since ten years ago, so it was good to refamiliarise myself with the place.
“The golf course is a little different than it was ten years ago, a little longer. A couple little minor changes but for the most part pretty much the same that I can remember from ten years ago.
“But yeah, look, game feels good coming off the back of two wins, a fun one in New Orleans with Shane, and then a really good performance last week. Just trying to keep the momentum going.”
Rory McIlroy filed for divorce from his wife Erica Stoll on Monday, in a Palm Beach County court in Florida, seven years after the couple tied the knot in a lavish ceremony at Ashford Castle.
The petition for divorce states that the pair had signed a prenuptial agreement. The filing also calls for shared custody and a parenting plan to be established for Poppy.
It described the marriage as irretrievably broken and asked that a prenuptial agreement, signed about a month before their April 21, 2017, wedding be validated and enforced. The prenuptial agreement was sealed.
McIlroy’s attorney was listed as Thomas Sasser, the same attorney who represented Tiger Woods when his wife divorced him in 2010.
Rory McIlroy’s communications team confirmed on Tuesday that a divorce has been filed.
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